Friday, 29 November 2013

Book 15

I
am proud of my new book, The Wilderness Within You, (linked here to US Amazon) because it is the fifteenth book I have written.

I
can remember going to the party of a friend who is a writer, to celebrate the
publication of his tenth book – and thinking at the time what an impossible place
to reach that seemed; I think I had maybe written one or two then.

I
have not had many achievements in my life; I didn’t do well at school, after
college I spent a decade either expecting or feeding babies, my years as a minister
of religion were sabotaged spectacularly by an avalanche of profound and
complex family problems which shipwrecked my life as dramatically as driving a
speedboat full-tilt into a concrete harbour wall.

As a person I am difficult – hard to get to know, socially inept and
ridiculously introverted.

But
I have written these books, and that feels like an achievement to me.

Number 15, The Wilderness Within You (linked here to UK Amazon) is a Lent book of conversations with Jesus, which may or may not be imaginary –
I say that because I am not sure myself, seeing that I do meet with and talk
with Jesus.How can I tell which
conversation are made up and which are real?You’ll have to decide for yourself.

It
has come out how I hoped and I am pleased with it, so you will have to take a
peek and see for yourself what you think.There’s a ‘Look Inside’ on Amazon.

It's got Bible readings and then a conversation with Jesus for each day of Lent - a good book to dip into, and handy for if you have to source readings for assemblies or women's meetings or retreats or church services etc. And a nice book if you like to have something just short to read at the beginning or end of the day - thought-provoking I hope, without being too intellectual or hard to understand. So, basically a book for people like me, which you probably are if you're reading here (unless you are the Thought Police or a spy from the government monitoring my opposition to the badger cull and my support for the Arctic 30…).

16 comments:

I had pre ordered and was delighted (!) when they arrived. I'm pleased to be able to give them as Christmas gifts and very much anticipating reading my copy, but am but finishing up The Breath of Peace. Deeply appreciate your writing.

Achievement comes in many guises, doesn't it? It's possible despite the pebbles in our heads or our bodies, socially, emotionally - whatever. It doesn't need to climb mountains or lead countries - it speaks for itself in the little things of life. Fifteen books is a real achievement. You continue to be an inspiration to many of us. Thanks for writing. Don't stop.

Congratulations on the book! I will put in on my list. I read the sample..

Some ideals in the Bible are easier for individuals than formal organizations to carry out, but we end up being taught them by people who owe their position to organizations. A community is an intermediate/ intermediary between the two.....

Thank you! It will be the last for at least a year or two. I have the next Hawk & Dove oe in mind, which I hope I will start writing in the spring, but no other projects of my own in hand at the mo. I'm editing other people's work, which is keeping me well busy this winter. xx

Dear Pen, I have to say that I wish with great wistfulness that I could number even one daughter (or son) and 15 books among my achievements ...

Yes, I know none of us get through unscathed. You clearly haven't. And I know that being a writer is not easy. And that the grass is always greener. Etc.

Anyway, more Hawk and Dove! Yay! I'd love more on Cormac and Francis ... and Tom? And Madeleine, who suffered a horrendous trauma in 'The Hour Before Dawn' ...

I love your monks so much it hurts me to think of their Abbey being eventually destroyed in the great upheavals of the Reformation. :( At least that's a very long way off in the Hawk and Dove timeframe ...

- Philippa

P.S. I thought you would like this group's music, I've just discovered them. Red Mountain Music, here is their beautiful version of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence:

I am a little behind in my blog reading. BUT! I am so thrilled to hear this news. That most certainly is quite the accomplishment. Good for you. I know what a lot of work it must be. I have a chapter in an anthology awaiting publication at the moment and it took forever to get "just right" and then the publishing! And that was just one single chapter! So, good for you, dear Pen.

Also, can I say that you really remind me of one of my most favorite university professors (and now dear friend), Lisa. I think she would also describe herself with "As a person I am difficult – hard to get to know, socially inept and ridiculously introverted." And wonderful, too.

Subscribe To Kindred of the Quiet Way

An Inspiration

‘Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left. Sell us food to eat and water to drink for their price in silver. Only let us pass through on foot until we cross the Jordan into the land the Lord our God is giving us.’

(Deuteronomy 2.27-28, 29b NIV UK)

To get in touch with Pen Wilcock

If you would like to communicate with me personally, you can do so by leaving a comment on this blog giving your email address. I will delete the comment (I will never publish a comment containing your contact details) and get in touch with you so you then have my email address.

All comments left here come to me at my regular email address, and I read each one before publishing it; there is no danger of a private message being published by an automated system.

Don't worry if you don't hear straight away after sending a comment. I check my emails most days as I'm online researching as I write books, but I do go away sometimes!

God bless you. I will have prayed for you if you read here, even if I do not know your name. May you walk in the way of blessing. May the light of Christ be your joy and your guide.

Pen

Search This Blog

Taking The Tide Of Love

A love story of the Plain people by Penelope Wilcock - an online novella.

The Hawk and the Dove vol.1

new edition of Feb 2015

The Wounds of God

Vol 2 of the Hawk & the Dove series new edition

The Long Fall

Vol 3 of The Hawk & the Dove series new edition

The Hardest Thing To Do

Vol 4 of The Hawk & the Dove series new edition

The Hour Before Dawn

Vol 5 of The Hawk and the Dove new edition

Remember Me

Vol 6 of The Hawk and the Dove new edition

The Breath of Peace

Vol 7 of The Hawk and the Dove new edition

The Beautiful Thread

Vol 8 of The Hawk and the Dove series

A Day And A Life

9th and final volume of The Hawk and the Dove series

.

This is good for groups or personal devotions

A Lent book

Online reviewer from CLC bookshops says: 'This is perhaps the most “off the wall “ Lent book I have seen for awhile.'